The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-01

"Here are your checks, Mary.
Goodbye, again, dear. Mother, are
you ready to go? Imust be at the
bank"
"Oh mol Unjust stay and see the
last OF them"
"Be careful, then, old lady. Don't
get onto the track, or knocked down
by the train. Counted your checks,
Mary?'
"Ies, Father. Goodbye"
And off trotted Mr.. Watrous, quite
MS grieved to part with his girl" rs
he still called her, ms his wife was; but,
man-like, unwilling or unable to ex-
press it.
just behind the car, perhaps rod
from it, stood the engine OF loca
accommodation train, splitting and
kissing, ready to leave as soon as the
California express should draw out.
Mrs. Watt Gus was still close to the
car when the first fast train came in,
passed her, and then was switched on
to the rail and coupled to the waiting
car; she was holding Mary hand when
the two met, and the jar disturbed her;
she started and almost fell.
"Oh, Mother do be careful" were
Mary's last words, rs she let 60 the
'clinging fingers and gave a long, last
look at the dear face, streaming with
tears.
In another instant, Just as she had
replaced Molly on the seat and shut
the window, she heard scream out
side. She sprang up and saw through
the door, near which she was seated,
her mother lying PROSTATE on the
track and the other engine coming
from the station, though slowly. The
express train on leaving this sta
ton ut once took n curve to the
south, so that all Mary saw was
part OF her mothers body in that un.
mistakable cloak, and two or three
men running toward the track; but
she saw enough. She dropped in
dead faint, hit her head against the
corner OF seat, and lay insensible for
hours, Molly screaming at the top OF
her voice, and all the women in the
car devoting themselves to her and
her mother.
At last Mary came out from her
long swoon and was able to tell the
shocked passengers what she had seen,
just as they reached the first stopping
place She insisted on getting off
there, though she trembled all over,
and her head swan with the blow she
had received. There would be no
eastward train for three hours, the
conductor said. and in that time, she
thought, herself possession would re-
turn. The conductor took Molly out,
and into the station, and Mary was
helped by kindly passenger, who
spoke with authority to the woman
in charge. lie was director on the
road, and consequently Mary was
well called for, seated in the one rocking
chair, n cup OF hot tea brought her,
and Molly besuiled, by the woman's
little child, who always accompanied
her mother to her place OF work. Left
TO herself, Mary began to recall the fear
full sight, to shudder, to remember her
mothers words: 81 must see the last
of them!" Poor mother! she had in
deed seen the last of her daughter and
pretty Molly And oh! why had she
tainted? But for that, she might
have persuaded the conductor to stop
right there and let her get off. Now,
she could not return to her father till
he knew all, and had to bear the shock
alone. She had three hours to wait
here, alone, impatient, distracted; and
I'she could not reach her father before
six, his dinner hour.
Then she thought of him, of he
sudden horror that had smitten him,
and, womanlike, her thoughts went
on into the future. Would he care to
stay in lI--y Would he not come to
her? But her house was small, her
children growing: how could she make
him comfortable? She would tele-
graph to John. her trunks coming
before her would starte him. Then
she reflected that he would net know
the trunks had come unless she were
there too. But he knew she was to
leave L.. to day. She raised herself
feebly from the rocking char, and ask
ed the woman in charge where she
should find the telegraph Office.
"Well, | can tell YOU, but 1t won
be of no use. TIL was tornado sweep
over the county yesterday afternoon,
at least over the south part OF it, and
the wires betwixt here and Sent Lewis
is all down. Mary sank back in her
chair; she could do nothing for John;
he must put up with his anxiety. An
hour went by, local trains came and
went, the usual sort OF travellers came
and went also.
Molly began to cry; she was tired
and hungry. Mary crept over to the
restaurant, now open to feed the pas
sengers OF northern accommodation
train who dined there. She got some
bread and milk for the child, and